Dimapur, July 19 (EMN): Reacting to the recent demand of inclusion of Dimapur into Assam state, the Chakhroma GB’s Union stated that the Nagas are only occupying their forefathers’ lands and rightfully claim their forefathers’ land based on the 9 Point Agreement, 1947 “which had earlier been transferred to Assam without the consent of Naga leaders”.
A press release issued by the Chakhroma GBs’ Union President, Thepfukedo Kuotsu and Secretary Atso Gwizan, while stating that the GBs being an agency of the executive wing of the government at the grass root level, tendered “certain pertinent points in response to the demand of the DNC (Dimasa National Council) to supposedly reclaim Dimapur to Assam”.
It acknowledged that “the Kacharis had their kingdom in the plains of Dimapur till the nomenclature ‘Dimapur’ was derived from a Kachari word representing an ancient name of the Kachari kingdom”. However, during the first part of the 16“ century, the Dima Raja and his men were chased out of Dimapur and have never returned ever since, the release stated.
“According to oral tradition, the Dima Raja married a daughter of Thezhiio Kemeduo, a magician in whose (Thezhtio) honour, he erected a Kuda (gate) and dug ponds around Pudumpukhuri area dedicated to his wife. However after the end of their (Dima and Thezhtio) friendship, a subsequent Ahom King sent some men and elephants and destroyed the Kuda sometime during the 18”‘ century.
“According to history, the Dima and his men were defeated by the mighty Angamis after which the Dima and his men escaped to the North Kachar hills during 1530 — 1536 and have not returned despite a lapse of centuries,” the release stated.
The release started that the British brought the Kachari labourers during the 18th century to work in the forest. “However it must be mentioned that these people continued to live only under the patronage of Angamis and never as political occupants like in the 16th century,” the release stated.
In this connection, the release stated that ‘it is worthy of note that official records about the functioning of Gaon Buras or Village Chiefs have existed since as early as 1840’.
It cited a passage from the Sir Alexander Mackenzie’s book ‘The North East Frontier of India’ (Page No. 106) ‘of an event wherein two Gaon Buras or Chiefs of Samoogoodting (Present Chumoukedima) entered into written engagements (Political Proceedings, 15”‘ June, 1840, Nos. 98 -99) to maintain friendly relations and to settle in the plains’.
“The record further reveals that ‘Lands east of Mohung Dijooa (presently called Manja Tin Ali, Karbi Anglong) were promised them, and the Naga prisoners were all released...’”, the release added.
In this connection, the release strongly stated that “the Nagas are only occupying their forefathers’ lands and have been living in peace without reason for hindrance; we rightfully claim our forefathers’ land based on the 9 Point Agreement, 1947, which had earlier been transferred to Assam without the consent of Naga leaders”
